Case unloading machine



May 21, 1946. A. c. DAVIS CASE UNLOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet l M r-N552 A LLAN c. DAv\-8 vMay 21, 1946. A. c. DAVIS 2,400,542

CASHUNLOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1,942 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALLAN C. DAV\S May 21, 1946. A. c. ms 2,400,542

CASE UNLOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 ALL N-C. DAvas a WW May 21, I946.

A. C. DAVIS CASE UNLOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 ALLAN C. DAvhs y 1, 1946. A. c. DAVIS 2,400,542

CASE UNLOADING MACHINE y 21, 1946' A. c. DAVIS 2,400,542

CASE UNLOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 AL A C. DAVIS Patented May 21, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASE UNLOADING MACHINE Allan G. Davis, Baltimore, Md.

Application December 30, 1942, Serial No. 470,654

45 Claims. (01. 214-11) In the bottling of soft drinks, beer and other liquids packed in compartment cases, in which the empty bottles are returned, the removal of the bottles from the cases, and their introduction into the infeed of the bottle washing machine, has involved a hand operation. This operation is slow and expensive and notably inefficient. This hand operation slows down and in various ways reduces the efiiciency of the line of machines by which the bottlesare washed, filled, inspected and placed in the cases or crates.

The object accomplished by the present inventicn is the provision of an automatic machine to be added to the previously existing line of machines, making it feasible to perform the entire cycle of operations in connection with bottling, case filing, washing and refilling, automatically and with the minimum of supervision. More particularly in the operation of the present machine, the compartment cases as received from the retailer, each case containing empty bottles in a series of rows, are placed on a feeding conveyor which feeds the machine of the invention, and this machine operating automatically almost without supervision for long periods, lifts the bottles row by row including as few or as many bottles as presented, and places the bottles on a bottle conveyor, from which they are duly transferred to a multiple conveyor which constitutes the infeed of a bottle washing machine, which in turn delivers to a bottle filling machine. Each case is advanced during the period of removal of the bottles therefrom preferably with a step by step motion and in a direction transverse to the case conveyor, variation as to such details being contemplated. Thus each row of bottles is brought in turn within the range of the pick up or gripping mechanism, and when each case is thus emptied of bottles it is thereafter advanced most conveniently in the direction of the case infeed to a case clearing mechanism whereby each case I .in turn is cleared of dirt and other debris.

machine being to remove the bottles from the cases and deliver the bottles to the intake of a washing machine which would in turn deliver the bottles to the bottle filling machine. All said operations are preferably continuous and automatic with the possible exception of the operation of the inspection apparatus which may require an attendant to note and remove defective bottles. This latter operation may be wholly automatic if desired. Hand feed and hand delivery may be practiced and the various operations may be omitted or rearranged.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a machine embodying the invention in the preferred form, changes of design as to all parts of the machine being contemplated and the use of the various elements of the machine in the absence of the others or with other elements or assemblies being likewise contemplated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine looking at the end at which the bottles and cases enter.

Figure 2 is a plan partly in section looking downwardly from the line 2-2 in Figure 1, this view shows the front end of the machine where the bottles and cases enter, being broken away at the left which is toward the rear of the machine.

Figure 3 is a similar plan showing the portion of the machine immediately at the rear of Figure 2 including the bottles in the course of delivery and the bottle delivery mechanism.

Figure 4 is a side elevation looking from the left in Figure 1 showing the front end of the machine, the infeed case conveyor and support being in section.

Figure 5 is a side elevation taken immediately to the rear of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section looking downwardly and showing an overload release for the drive and a manually operated reengaging device.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the bottle delivery pusher for shifting the bottles from the bottle conveyor of the present machine to the intake of the washing machine, said section being taken on the line l'| in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of a stop-motion device for stopping the machine when a bottle cannot be ejected by the pusher and when the supply of cases containing empty bottles is insuflicient.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation looking from the right in Figure 8 from line 9-4! in said figure.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section on line ll0 in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the bottle row pick-up mechanism said view being partly broken away to show the bottle neck gripping mechanism in detail.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line iZ-IZ in Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section on line I3l3 in Figure 2 looking to the rear, or in the direction of motion of the cases and illustrating the operation of aligning the bottles with the grippers bringing them to upright position when tipped laterally.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical section on line I l-l4 in Figure 12 showing the operation of the swinging guides or flaps in aligning with the grippers and bringing to upright position a bottle which is tipped forwardly.

Figure 15 is a similar view on the same plane showing the escape of the swinging guides or flaps when they encounter bottles tipped rearwardly as when a case partition is broken.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of the gripper assembly or take up.

Referring to the drawings by numerals the frame of the machine is indicated in a general way by reference character I.

The infeed of the cases from which the bottles are to be removed and the delivery of cases from the machine and other operations at the front end of the machine are preferably performed in time with the bottle washer and for this purpose these mechanisms are preferably connected to the motor 2 shown at the right in Figure l, which motor in the form shown operates the bottle washing machine, indicated at 3 in Figure 3, the same being fed by a multiple conveyor 4. This arrangement is not essential.

In the form shown there is a worm drive on or connected to the shaft of the motor. This Worm drives the worm wheel 6, the shaft of which carries or drives a small sprocket I, which in turn drives a chain 14 which engages and operates a sprocket 9 spaced upwardly above the sprocket 1. Sprocket 9 is an idler for spacing the flights of the chain. Chain l4 operates a sprocket secured to a shaft is, which carries and drives sprockets H, which operate the conveyor chains I8 of the conveyor 4, which constitutes the infeed for the bottles led to the washing machine.

In the form shown the chain l4 also drives a sprocket l9 which operates a shaft 20 which carries a pulley 2| which drives a belt 22 leading to the left in Figure 1 engaging and driving a pulley 24 secured to and driving a shaft 25 in the front center of the machine. This shaft also carries secured thereto a pulley 26 which drives a belt or belts 21 extending from the left in Figure 1 and downwardly. The belt or belts 21 serve in connection with rollers 28 to feed crates containing empty bottles to the machine. The word bottle is used for convenience to include various articles capable of removal from packages by machines.

The belt 21 and the rollers 28 constitute an infeed case conveyor assembly 28. The rollers 28 may be journaled at their ends in angle irons 30 and the entire conveyor is preferably inclined downwardly toward the machine which is the Subject of this invention, and particularly toward the free rollers 3| which are horizontally arranged across the front of the machine having their axes extending in a fore and aft direction. to support the cases while the bottles are being removed therefrom in the manner previously outlined, and to be further described. The rollers 28, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 have a relatively high speed for bringing each case in turn quickly into position to take immediately the position of the previous case on the rollers 3| for the removal of the bottles from each case in turn without interruption. Each row of bottles in each case is lifted from the case as previously outlined. For convenience this position of the case may be referred to as the bottle take up position and these rollers 3| which are preferably free to rotate, not driven, may be referred to as the bottle take up supporting rollers or bottle take up case supporting rollers.

The belt 32 driven by small pulley 33 on the shaft 25 is a slow speed belt driving slow speed rollers not shown by which the cases containing the empty bottles may be brought from a relatively remote location where they are placed on the conveyor, each case being quickly introduced into the machine in turn by the rollers 28 as the previous .case in the take up position on rollers BI is emptied of bottles and advanced through the machine in the manner to be described. To maintain the speed of the machine and to make the take up operation substantially continuous and uniform this relatively quick motion by which the cases are inserted is helpful or necessary, the slow motion of belt 32 and the rollers driven thereby being sufficient to maintain the supply of cases due to the dwell of each case in turn in the take up position 3|.

In connection with the infeed case conveyor assembly 29 it is of interest that the member 34, shown in elevation in Figure l, is an adjustable guide plate for the cases shown in plan in Figure 2, the direction of adjustment is transverse to the motion of belt 32, said adjustment being indicated at 34. Figure 2 also shows an antifriction roller 35 around which the cases pass in moving from the infeed belt 32 or more immediately from rollers 28 to the take up position on rollers 3| and the cases also contact said roller 35 in moving forwardly during the take up operation.

Roller 36 in Figure 2 is a stop motion roller for actuating a stop motion, to be further described, which stop motion stops the machine temporarily in the absence of a sufficient supply of cases. This stop motion is to be described in connection with other protective features of the machine.

In the removal of the bottles from the cases, the cases are advanced with a step by step motion and each row of bottles in turn is lifted and placed on the bottle transfer conveyor 38, shown in plan in Figure 2. A row of bottles in the top position after lifting is shown in elevation at 39a in Figure 1 and in plan in Figure 2.

As a means for advancing the cases with a step by step motion from the take up position on rollers 3 l there is a case pusher 40 having rearwardly extending parallel racks 4| and 42 engaged y pawls 43, shown in plan in Figure 2, andin side elevation in Figure 4. These pawls are carried by an oscillating frame 44 seen in front elevation in Figure 1, said frame being pivoted at the top of the machine on a transverse shaft 45. This frame 44 comprise downwardly extending swinging arms 46 and 46' at each side of said frame 44 and these arms carry at their lower ends a transverse cross arm 41 which may be a tubular member as shown. This cross arm is shown as horizontal, extending transversely of the machine. The pawls 43 as shown are pivotally mounted on each end of this tubular cross arm 41 and may be seen in Figure 1, the pawls also being shown in plan in Figure 2, and in side elevation in Figure 4.

The cross arm 41 is shown as provided near its center with a depending arm 48 which is pivotally connected at its lower end at 49 to a tension rod 50, see Figures 1 and 4.

Referring to Figure it will be noted that the tension rod 50 extends rearwardly beyond the center of the machine where it is pivotally connected to the upright arm 5| of a bell crank lever 52 pivotally mounted on the lower portion of the frame at 53, said bell crank having a rearwardly extending arm 54 provided with a cam shoe 55 which as shown is extending in a fore and aft substantially horizontal direction preferably being of a relatively flat S shape. In the form of machine shown this cam shoe is engaged by a roller 56 carried by a radial arm 51 rigidly mounted on a cam shaft 58 extending transversely of the machine and driven in a manner to be later described. The details and manner of drive being subject to wide variation.

The tension rod 50 as shown is connected by way of a depending arm 59 and a tension rod 60 to a pneumatic spring 6|, which may be of the door check type. This spring keeps the shoe 55 in the path of the roller 56 returning it thereto after each reciprocation and prevents shock, noise and vibration or hammering incident to the intermittent action of the cam shoe and case pusher 4|).

The number of rack teeth on the racks 4| and 42 preferably corresponds to the number of rows in a case, i. e., in the machine shown there are four of these teeth 62 on each rack, see Figure 4.

The pawls are pivoted on the cross arm 41 and are held normally in contact with the racks 4| and 42 by springs 63 connected to suitable lugs 93' on th depending arms 46 and 46' and to the tails 63" of pawls 43. Each pawl 43 has a dependin arm 65 carrying at its lower end a flat vertical transverse plate 66. Each of these plates is engaged on the return or forward swing of the frame 44 by a releasing abutment. These abutments are shown in the form of bolts 6'! seated in the frame as best seen in Figure 4, said bolts 61 and plates 66 also being shown in plan in Figure 2.

The infeed case pusher 40 is further provided with a second pair of racks 68, see Figure 2, said racks being shown as spaced outwardly from each corresponding rack 4| and 42. Each of these racks 68 is engaged by and with a corresponding pawl 69 shown as depending directly downwardly in Figure 4. These pawl are pivotally mounted on stationary upright brackets securedto the frame at each side. The purpose of the pawls 59 engaging racks 68 is to retain the pusher 48 in each of the respective positions which it takes as and when it is advanced by the oscillating movement of frame 44 and pawls 43 carried thereby which engage in their successive reciprocations the successive teeth 62 of the racks 4| and 42. Pawls 69 are pivoted at H on the upright brackets 10 and are held normally in the depending position shown in Figure 4 by means of relatively weak springs 12 each secured at one end the pper'end of its bracket 10 and at its other gigd to the upright tail of the correspondin pawl It is of interest at this point, that the pusher 40 being advanced by the action of pawls 43 carried by reciprocating frame 44 has imparted to it a backward tendency by which it is finally withdrawn after each case in turn has been emptied. A case in position on take up rollers 3| is indicated by reference character 73 in Figure 4.

The backward tendency referred to is imparted by a tension member shown in the form of cable 14 which is passed around a pulley I5 mounted on the frame at the front of the machine. This cable 14 is connected to the pusher 40 at 16, see gure 4. Cable I4 also extends rearward-y to the middle section of the machin shown in elevation in Figure 5 where it is connected to a pneumatic spring 11 which as already pointed out imparts a tendency to the pusher 40 whereby it is withdrawn or moved oppositely to the ase motion, with a dampened motion.

As the pusher 4B is moved forwardly step by step by the action of pawls 43 on racks 4| and 42, the check pawls 69 engage the racks 68 and thus prevent the pusher 40 from being withdrawn to the right in Figure 2 by action of the cable '14 and spring 11, i. e., pawls 69 hold the pusher 40 stationary after each case pushing stroke of pawl carrying frame 44 aand pawls 43. When the check racks 68 have been advanced beyond the pawls 69 the said pawls 69 immediately swing downwardly to the depending position in which these pawls 69 are shown in Figure 4. At this time the case in the bottle pick up position has been advanced beyond roller 35 and hence out of the path of the cases entering by way of conveyor 29. At this time check pawls 69 are released from their racks 58 and when the frame 44 makes its next return stroke, i. e., to the right in Figure 4, pawls 43 being caused to spring upwardly by contact with abutment screws Bl, the pusher 40 is withdrawn to the right in Figure 4 by the action of cable 14 and pneumatic spring 11. The withdrawal of pusher 4|] by the cable 14 causes racks 68 to move to the right as seen in Figure 2, completely beyond the pawls 69 so that the latter again move to the vertical depending position seen in Figure 4 and when these racks 68 are again advanced with the pusher 40 the pawls 69 are engaged by said racks and inclined downwardly and to the left in Figure 4 so that they again serve as check pawls to prevent the withdrawal of pusher 40 in response to the tension in cable 14. This function is served until the case in take up position has been advanced step by step and has had its successive rows of bottles removed as hereinafter described its forward end having reached the roller 35, Figure 2, the said case having thus passed out of the path of the cases entering from conveyor 29. Springs 11 and 6| prevent excess virbration and hammering. It may be noted that this case motion brings each row of bottles in turn to a bottle' gripping position.

It is of interest that the motion imparted to rod 50 and cam shoe 55 on the return stroke by pneumatic spring 6| is a slow motion incident to the operation of such springs. However, in order to determine the extreme limit of the return stroke a stop plate 18 has been placed on the frame of the machine at the extreme right in Figure 4 and in the path of the jaws 79 at the extreme forward end of the rod 50 in which jaws the pivot 49 is mounted. This plate serves in case the machine is stopped when roller 56 is out of contact with cam shoe 55 to position the latter in the path of said roller 56. It may also be noted at this point that a turn buckle is provided as at 80 or at any suitable location in rod 50 to adjust the length of that rod and hence to locate the cam shoe 55 in the path of roller 56 and to adjust the length and time of the stroke.

To return to the description of the path of the empty cases through the machine it will be noted that as each case is emptied in the bottle take up position on rollers 3| and moves backwardly as each row of bottles is removed, it pushes the previously emptied cases backwardly through the machine forming a continuous line of cases moving through the machine to the case turn over and discharge at the rear end of the machine as previously mentioned.

For this purpose the path of the cases through the machine backwardly from the bottle take up position is defined by a line of anti-friction rollers 8| arranged with their axes horizontal and transverse to the length of the machine. These rollers may be rotatively supported in a pair of angle irons 02 arranged in parallel and extending backwardly on each side of the path thus identified. These rollers are shown in end elevation in Figures 4 and 5 and in plan in Figure 3.

In the form shown there are two sets of short rollers 8|, one at each side of the path of the cases having their journals seated in the upright flanges of angle irons 82. In this way the center of the machine is made more accessible particularly from beneath. The extension of the rollers across the entire path of the cases being regarded as undesirable in the particular form of machine shown.

At the extreme forward end of said path of the cases just rearwardly of the bottle take up position on the rollers 3 I, supporting plate 83, see Figure 4, has been shown instead of anti-friction rollers and at the rear end of the path the drawing shows supporting plates 84, Figure 5.

The handling of the bottles particularly their removal in successive rows from the cases and delivery to the washing machine will now be discussed.

The bottles are moved from the take up position where they are lifted row by row from a case on the rollers 3I, see Figure 2, to the discharge position, Figure 3, in which they are pushed on to the washer feed conveyor by means of a conveyor shown in the form of the horizontal bottle transfer conveyor 38. This conveyor is mounted to operate on the horizontal idler sprockets or guide sprockets 9I, 92 and 93. The first of these being shown in plan in Fig. 3, and sprockets 92 and 93 being shown fragmentarily in the same figure and also fragmentarily in Fig. 2. This conveyor 38 comprises a horizontal sprocket chain 94 to which are secured individual bottle carriers 95. The chain 94 operates in a counterclockwise direction about the seld three sprockets which turn freely in response to a step by step motion imparted to the chain in a manner hereinafter described. The carriers in the form shown have upright sides which a seen in plan are L shaped, the open sides being disposed in the form shown, forwardly in the direction of clockwise belt motion and outwardly disposed from the enclosure formed by the belt. Said up right sides are indicated by reference character 96, each of these carriers! also includes a bottom plate 91 which as shown is approximately square. Throughout the greater portion of its path the conveyor 38 is supported by horizontal plates 98. The conveyor, and/or plate 98 may be referred to as a bottle row support. Each of the individual carriers is provided with a depending tongue I00, see Fig. '7, which follows the inner edge of plates 98.

At the front of the machine as shown in Fig. 2 there is an upright guide 99 for the bottles the same extending upwardly from the outer edge of the plate 98 on the outside of the curves of the conveyor 38 at sprockets 92 and 93, Figure 7. It may be noted that the bottle guide 99 is absent from a point opposite the roller 35 to a point directly back of detector roller 36 at the front, the entire front flight of the conveyor being open for the admission of bottles and being closed at intervals by a gate to be described.

It may be noted in Figure 7 which pictures the discharge position of the bottles where they leave the chain 38 that the portion of the upright sides 96 which is parallel to the chain, is slotted at IOI in a horizontal direction to admit the bottle pusher to be described and the conveyor supporting plate 98 at this point is shown in the form of an angle iron with a depending flange I02 parallel to the path of the conveyor 38 at this point. This depending flange I02 is vertically placed and parallel to the conveyor, 1. e., extending in a direction fore and aft of the machine and there is also shown parallel to the flange I02 and slightly spaced therefrom the depending vertical flange I03 of an angle iron I04. The spacing referred to providing a guide slot I05 for the depending guide tongue I00. Angle iron I04 is part of the frame.

In the form of the invention shown the conveyor 38 is driven with a step by step motion each step being of a length corresponding to the length of a full row of bottles in the cases, and these steps are timed to correspond to the steps of the step by step motion of the cases particudarly on rollers 3|. This motion takes place in the direction of the axe of these rollers. This step by step motion of conveyor 38 is accomplished or transmitted by means of a reciprocating hook I06 which is best shown in plan in Figure 3. This hook is pivotally mounted on a carriage I01 shown in end elevation in Figure 7 and in side elevation in Figure 5. This carriage in the form shown is provided with upper and lower rollers I08 and I09 there being two upper and two lower rollers. These rollers in the form shown ride in upper and lower channel tracks III) and I I I which are mounted on the frame and extend longitudinally of the machine.

The hook lever I06 is pivotally mounted on the carriage I01 at II2 as shown in Figure 3, the pivot being intermediate of the length of the lever or hook. The tail of the hook lever is drawn backwardly away from the chain 94 by a spring II4 shown in plan in Figure 3. The rear end of the spring is engaged in a suitable bracket I I5 on the carriage I0! in Figure 7 and also shown in Figure 3. The bracket II5 supports the lever I06 and spring I I4 and pivot I I2.

The carriage I01, see Figure 5, i in the form of the invention shown operated by the arm 51 on shaft 58 which carries at its outer end the roller 56 which operates cam shoe 55 which in turn imparts the step by step motion already described as the motion of the case pusher. The outer swinging end of the arm 51 in the form shown is connected as by a wrist pin 1, Figure 5, to a connecting rod I I8 which has similar connection at II9 to the reciprocating carriage I01.

It will thus be apparent that the arm 51 rotating counter-clockwise advances the hook I06 giving no motion of the chain 38 as the roller 56 moves over the cam shoe 55 whereby the case in bottle pick up position is advanced, but on the other hand, when the roller 56 has left the shoe 55 for a considerable period comprising a rotation of about 90 and the bottle lifting motion is complete the hook I will engage the chain 94 of the conveyor throughout the remainder of the rotation of the arm 51 advancing bottle conveyor 38. Thus the bottle transfer conveyor 38 is in motion for a period which begins after the take from each case has terminated. The intervening period being suflicient for lifting a row of bottles from the case and placing it on the conveyor 38. The length of the motion of the conveyor 38 is predetermined to correspond to the length of the bottle rows in a case, i. e., in the cases to be emptied. During the motion of the conveyor 38 the case being emptied remains stationary, i. e., the case is stationary for threefourths of the revolution of the arm 51 and a row of bottles is lifted therefrom and placed on conveyor 38, prior to the initial movement of conveyor 38.

It will be noted by reference to Figure 2 which is a plan of the front end of the machine that each bottle carrier 95 is open at its front side in the position in which the said bottle carriers face the cases in take up position, i. e., as they are located on the take up roll 3|, and the guide 39 may be said to begin, or have its forward end opposite and directly to the rear of the detector roller 36, which engages the forward end of each case in take up position.

In order to hold the bottles when deposited on the conveyor 33 particularly in the carriers and to prevent them from falling forwardly therefrom, a vertically reciprocating gate I08A slides in vertical guides I09A. Referring to Figure 4, it will be noted that the gate "MA is operated by upright connecting rods I IIIA, one at each end of the gate and at each side of the machine as shown in Figures 1 and 4. These upright connecting rods IIOA are operated each respectively by an approximately horizontal rearwardly extending arm IIIA rigidly secured to a transverse shaft IIZA which extends across the machine from side to side near the front. This shaft I I2A is rocked by an arm II4A secured to said shaft and in the form shown extending upwardly therefrom. The arms IIIA and II4A have the effect of a bell crank lever. The arm II4A at its upper end is pivotally connected to a connecting rod II5A which extends rearwardly from arm II4A being connected at its rear end to an upright arm II5A which in turn is mounted to rock about a horizontal transverse shaft II1A rotatively mounted on the frame. see Figure 5. This shaft II1A carries rigidl secured thereto a follower arm II 8A which is approximately upright and carries at its upper end the follower roller II9A which engages a gate operating cam I20, see Figure 5, the same being mounted on shaft 58 to rotate therewith. The arms IIGA and NBA may to advantage be made adjustable about the shaft I'iA to time the gate IDEA.

The cam I20 is so timed and arranged as to advance the roller IISA to the right in Figure 5, and hence to advance the connecting rod II5A, raising the gate I08A once in each revolution of the shaft 58 the gate being lowered b its own weight which keeps the follower I I9A in contact with the cam I20. The cam I20 is further so timed and arranged as to provide for the lowering or opening of the gate I08A after each advancement of the conveyor 38 at the beginning of the dwell of said conveyor permitting a load of bottles to be placed on the conveyor, and immediately thereafter the gate is raised permitting the bottle conveyor 38 to advance with its load without an opportunity to dislodge Or tip forwardly the bottles recently placed on said conveyor and permitting the bottle gripper to release. The bottle row lifting mechanism will next be discussed.

Figure 4 shows a bottle neck gripper assem bly 522. This gripper assembly as seen from the front in Figure 1 comprises a series or a row of gripper units I 24 corresponding in number to the number of bottle compartments in a long row, i. e., to the number of short rows of bottle compartments in a case of the type to be handled by the machine. In other words the cases in bottle take up position have their long dimensions transverse to the length of the machine and to the direction in which the cases pass through the machine after the bottles are removed. This is a matter of choice or election.

This gripper assembly I22 comprising a row of gripper members I24 as explained is suspended in a manner to be described from longitudinal approximately horizontal rocking beam I25 shown at the top of the machine, Figures 4 and 5. This walking beam is pivoted at the rear at I26 on the frame I of the machine as shown in Figure 5. This walking beam which comprises two spaced parallel beam members I25 and I25" is operated by a cam I21 mounted on and rotating with a transverse shaft I28. This cam I21 is engaged by a follower roller I29 mounted on a cross bar I29 connecting the beam members I25 and I25" which as shown are in the form of trusses designed to have suflicient rigidit in a transverse or vertical direction to support and move the bottles and to overcome their inertia at the speed at which they must be lifted to conform to other operations of the machine at the required output. At its forward end the beam I25 c'arries pivotally mounted thereon b means of a transverse shaft extending from beam member I25 to beam member I25", said shaft being indicated by I30 in Figure 4, a bell crank member I3I having two forwardly extending approximately horizontal arms I32 and a single depending arm I33. This depending arm I33 has a rear- Wardly extending arcuate portion I34 at its lower end containing an arcuate slot I35 which is preferably concentric with the pivot I30. This slot I35 is engaged by a bolt I36 carried by arm I31 rigidly connected to the beam I25 being secured to a transverse rod I31 connecting the beam members I25 and I25". The position of the bell crank relative to the beam, i. e., the walking beams I25 may be adjusted by moving the depending arm I 33 and the arc I34 relative to arm I31 and clamping the bolt I 36 in the adjusted position which it takes in the slot I35.

The shaft I30 preferably extends transversely of the machine for approximately the length of the bottle neck gripper assembly I22 and the beam members I25 and I25" are correspondingly spaced. The beam and parts carried thereby are counterweighted and partially supported by weight I38, see Figure 5, which is in the form shown connected to the transverse rod I31 at a point adjacent the upper end of arm I31 as by cable I39 run upwardly over pulley I40 and rearwardly and then downwardly over pulley I40 to the beam to which it is connected as aforesaid, adjacent the end of arm I 31. When a case in the take up position has reached the end of a single step of its step by step motion bringin a row of bottles to the position shown at 39 in Figure 4 in which said row is ready to be raised from the case, the bottle neck gripper assembly I22 is lowered over the bottle necks of this row, gripping the neck of each bottle in a manner to be described. This lowering motion is controlled by cam or cams I21 which almost immediately raise the beam I25 lifting the row of bottles to a position above the bottle conveyer 38 approximately as shown by the position of the bottles at 39a in the gripper I22 in Figure 4. While this figure shows the row of bottles 39a at the elevation referred to it illustrates a later position in which they have been pushed backwardly by a motion now to be described. As shown in said figure the row of bottles 39a has been elevated and the gate IIIBA has been lowered to admit them to the conveyor 38 and the gate has thereafter again been raised after this row of bottles was moved backwardly from the initial raised position to the position shown at 39a.

The rearward motion of the gripper assembly is to be described. It may be noted that the bottle neck gripper I22 is suspended from the bell crank arms I32 which extend formally from the forward end of the rocking beam I25. pension device may be referred to as a pantograph which it somewhat resembles in its construction and operation. The pantograph being indicated in a general way by reference character I42. A transverse shaft I43 is mounted on the forward ends of approximately horizontal bell crank arms I32 and has secured thereto and depending therefrom an arm I44 to the lower end of which is pivotally connected a positioning rod I45 which extends rearwardly and is pivotally mounted on the frame I at its rear end at I46 at the left in Figure 5. There is also secured to this shaft I43 a rearwardly extending approximately horizontal arm I45, the arms I44 and I45 being in the nature of a bell crank, and at the rear end of the arm I45 is pivotally connected a depending arm I46 which in the position shown is inclined rearwardly and downwardly at an angle of a little less than with the vertical, the exact position being unimportant. At the lower end of this arm I46 is pivotally connected an approximately forwardly extending arm I4I which is rigidly connected at its forward end to the top or body of the bottle neck gripper I22. The purpose of the suspension I45, I46, I41 is to maintain the vertical attitude of the bottle gripper assembly I22 approximately as shown in Figure 4 so that the bottles are held in upright position and are not tipped in raising. The member I45 may be referred to as a radius rod and the member I44 as a radius rod arm or crank.

The bottle neck gripper assembly I22 shown in Figu"es 1, 4, 11 and 12 is suspended from shaft I43 by means of depending arms I49 and I50 the former being shown in Figure 4 and both in Figure 1. These arms are pivotally connected to each side of the bottle neck gripper assembly I22, as at I5I and I5I'.

A fore and aft motion is imparted to t e gr p assembly I22 by means of a connecting rod I52, Fi ure 4, pivotally connected to the arm I49 at I53 and extending rearwardly as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 being provided with a turn buckle adjustment at I54 for determining the length of the arm and hence the fore and aft position of The susripper assembly I22. At its rear end the rod I52, see Figure 5, is pivotally connected to the upper end of an upright lever I55 shown as pivoted at its center at I56 on the frame of the machine and having at its lower end a cam follower roller I51 engaging a cam mounted on the shaft 58 previously described. The follower I5! is held in contact with the cam I58 by means of a tension sprin I59 connected to the rod or connecting rod I52 and to a stationary point I59 on the frame I at the rear or left in Figure 5. The cam I58 is so timed as to move the bottle neck gripper I22 rearwardly or to the left in Figure 4 when the gripper is raised to the top of the path bringing the row of bottles engaged by the gripper over the corresponding carriers of the conveyor 38, said cam also being timed and arranged to move gripper assembly I22 to the right or forwardly when by lowering of the beam or beams I 25 the row of bottles has been lowered into contact with base plates 91 of the carriers 95 and the gate I08A has been raised. This forward motion serves to disengage the gripper units I24 from the bottles and the gripper assembly is thereafter lowered in to engagement with the next row of bottles 39 as previously described. It is important that when the gripper assembly I22 is moving forwardly or to the right in Figure 4 to disengage the bottle necks, the gate IIJBA is in the raised position shown in Figure 4. In this position it holds the bottles'preventing rearward motion thereof with the gripper and provides for the release of the bottle necks from gripper units I24.

It may be of interest that the row of bottles 39, Figure 4, is the last row in a case 13' passing through the bottle takeup position. The case I3 is approaching the take up position being on rollers 3 I.

The bottles in the row referred to a in the take up position to be engaged by bottle neck gripper units I24 are located opposite or in line with the respective carrier 95 in which they are to be placed, by means of a positioning member I33 shown in plan in Figure 2, this positioning member has rearwarclly tapered guides I63 which in the form shown, as seen in plan, resemble saw teeth. Each converging guide I63 has its center line opposite the center of a corresponding carrier 95. As the case in the take up position on rollers 3| is advanced each step in the step by step motion corresponding to the rows of bottles in the case, the rearward row, about to be taken up, is engaged by the guide member I60 and particularly by the converging guides I 63, I 64 and positioned in line with a corresponding carrier 95 and incidentally in line with a corresponding take up or gripper unit I 24, Figure 1, of the bottle neck gripper assembly I22. There is one of said gripper units I24 for each bottle in the rows to be presented.

The bottle neck gripper I22 is shown in side elevation in Figure 4, in front elevation in Figure 1, and in detail in Figures 11 and 12.

Each bottle neck gripper unit I 24 comprises in the preferred form shown a forwardly swin ing flap or guide I65 shown as of angular or inverted L shaped outline as seen in side elevation in Figure 4. This cover is pivotally mounted at the top rear at I66 the said pivot extending transversely to the rearward motion of the cases 13 at the time the bottles are being removed therefrom and thereafter. Each cover or flap I65 as shown isprovided with an upright arm I61 to the upper end of which is connected a forwardly extending tension spring I58 connected at its forward end to a corresponding bracket I69 carried by the body or frame I22 of said gripper assembly I 22. These flaps I65 tend to prevent the bottle necks from escaping in a forward horizontal direction from the respective gripper units I24 when said units are in the initial gripping position and in a corresponding direction a the units advance and guide the bottles into the gripper jaws.

In the form of the invention shown the lifting engagement of the gripper units I24 with the necks is attained by toggle jaws or gripper plates I10, see Figures 11 and 12. One of these toggle plates is mounted at each side of each gripper unit I24, each said member I10 being mounted on a fore and aft extending horizontal pivot I1I secured in the frame I22 of the gripper I22, at each side of the respective slots I12 formed in the frame of said gripper assembly and corresponding each to one of the bottle neck gripper units I24, each being adapted to receive a bottle neck including the upper portion of the bottle as shown in Figure 12. It may be noted at this point that gripper assembly frame I22 as shown resembles an elongated box of rectangular crosssection, the elongated dimension of the box extending transversely of the machine. This boxlike frame is slotted transversely of its length and in the direction of the motion of the cases in passing through the machine, These slots I12 extend through the box and are spaced according to the spacing of bottle carriers 95 .on conveyor 38 and hence according to the spacing of the centers of the case compartments.

The toggle grippers or gripper plates I10 are impelled downwardly to horizontal position by coil springs I13 coiled about the pivot pins I1I of said plates and bearing on the top side of the plates or toggle grippers I10. These as shown preferably have straight cuter fore and aft extending swinging edges I10, see Fig, 11. Suitable stop means or surfaces to prevent the gripper I 10 from going below horizontal position are indicated at I14 in Figure 12. These steps, one on each side of each unit I24 support the weight of the bottles as and when they are lifted by the toggle lever I25, the arrangement described being the preferred form, and variation being contemplated.

In operation the gripper assembly I22 moves downwardly passing each gripper unit I24 over the neck of a corresponding bottle of each row of bottles in turn, the bottles of each row being suitably positioned by the guide I60. Said rows of bottles are thus engaged in turn by the gripper assembly I22 as the cases are advanced to hottle take up position for each row of bottles in turn. The downward motion of the gripper assembly I22 causes the bottle necks to engage the gripper plates I10 near their adjacent swinging ends and to swing them upwardly about pivot pins I1I whereby each bottle neck in the row is caused to enter between the grippers which pass downwardly over the neck portion and over the shoulders or protuberances I15, the gripper I10 springing back toward horizontal position beneath said shoulders or protuberances I15 whereby the gripper I10 rest on the stops or stop surfaces I14. The gripper assembly I22 supported by walking beam I25 and controlled by cam I21, positioning or radius rod I45, pantograph I42 and bell cranks I3I and I44, I65 then moves upwardly and then rearwardly, the gate IOA being .withdrawn downwardly, and the gripper units I24 with the bottles 39a therein reach the position shown in Figure 4 which is the uppermost and rearmost position. From this position the gripper unit I24 composing gripper assembly I22 move downwardly until the bottles rest on the bottom plate 91 of the carriers 95 the bottles being held against release in a forward direction by the hinged plates !65 and by the gate IIIBA which will have moved upwardly to the position shown in Figure 4 in which it is just forward of the bottles 39a extending upwardly to Or above their centers of gravity.

At this time gripper assembly I22 moves forwardly which is to the right in Figure 4, the toggle gripper or plate members 10 which preferably have straight fore and aft extending gripping edges I10 being withdrawn forwardly releasing the bottle necks, the bottles being held stationary by gate I08. On the next advancement of the bottle row conveyor 38 the row of bottles just placed thereon is carried forwardly away from the observer in Figure 2, passing contra clockwise around the curve in contact with the guide 99 near the top of said figure.

The swinging guides or flaps I65 by straightening forwardly tipped bottles and bringing them into alignment with the grippers of the gripper assembly I22 serve an important function which constitutes a considerable contribution to the satisfactory result attained by the gripping and take up elements of the machine, and they also serve as already suggested to prevent tipping of the bottles forwardly when released on conveyor 30 prior to the arrival of the gate I08 in its operative relation to conveyor. The flap I65 also prevents the swinging of the bottles pendulum wise in a fore and aft plane whereby they might enter the path of the gate I08 as it moves upwardly, and presses the bottles against guide I60 to straighten them when tipped laterally.

It is also notable that when a bottle is tipped backwardly due to a broken partition in the case the flap yields forwardly and upwardly stretching spring I68, and preventing breakage of bottles and jamming of the machine.

Figure 14 illustrates in broken lines the normal operation of the flap I65 as the gripper assembly descends, one of the bottles I39 being tipped backwardly. In this instance the flap I05 when its lower edge hits the top of the bottle swings or yields upwardly about hinge I66 throwing said bottom edge forwardly so that it slips over the crown of the bottle and moves downwardly along the forward surface of the bottle, the action of spring I58 bringing the bottle to upright position in fore and aft vertical alignment with the corresponding gripper I10 As the gripper assembly I22 moves rearwardly at the upper level attained, to bring it over conveyor 38, the flaps I65 oppose the lag of the bottles tending to hold them in the gripper. The full line part of the figure shows the final lowermost position of the unit with the flap down and the bottles gripped ready for lifting.

Figure 16 illustrates diagrammatically the path I223: of the gripper unit as previously described the motion being in the direction of the arrows. At times the horizontal portion of the path has been referred to as a transverse motion as well as a fore and aft motion in that it is transverse to the up and down motion.

Figure 15 shows a case 13 with a broken wall, a bottle I39 being tipped rearwardly for this or other reason. As the unit I22 descends the lower edge of flap I65 may contact the crown or top of the bottle I39 or at some other point. Assuming the former condition, the location of hinge I66 rearwardly of the flap gives a motion of the said lower edge of flap I65 which relieves any tendency of the flap to cramp in connection with the bottle. In other words, the flap swings forwardly and passes down over the bottle without applying destructive pressure, moving at the lower position of unit I22 to the position shown in Figure 15. The broken lines, Figure show the unit moving downwardly empty, to engage the bottles, the depending portion of the flap being vertical.

When the unit is raised from the full line position Figure 15, the flap I65 is released and on the next forward motion the bottle I39 is straightened by contact with guide I99, see Figures 13 and 14.

Figure 13 further illustrates the operation of the saw toothed guide I69. This figure shows bottles I39 in full lines and standing upright, and in broken lines it shows two bottles I39 tipped side wise.

On the further rearward motion of the case 13 bringing bottles I39 into contact with the saw toothed edge of member I69 the bottles tend to be straightened by a transverse swinging motion to upright position, the operation being assisted or completed by the yielding forward pressure of flaps I65 as they move downwardly, pressing the bottles, which tend to lean forwardly as well as side-wise, into the wedge shaped spaces between the teeth.

Assuming for convenience that the rows of bottles lifted from the cases and placed on the conveyor 38 consist each of six bottles the number being varied to suit the design of the cases and the manner of presenting the same, the bottle washer, the intake or infeed end of which is indicated at 3 is designed to receive rows of bottles of a length equal to twice the length of the rows in the cases as lifted therefrom. The bottles may therefore be most conveniently removed from the conveyor 38, Figure 3, and advanced towards the bottle washer in twelve lines comprising successive rows of twelve bottles each.

To this end the conveyor 4 includes twelve or any suitable number of passage ways or ways I89 at right angles to the adjacent portion of conveyor 39 and to the step by step movement of the cases. Each way I89 contains a line of bottles I8I the side walls of the ways being shown in the form of upright elongated plates I82 and in the form shown there is a conveyor chain I8, Figures 1 and 3 at the bottom center of each such way extending longitudinally thereof, the bottom wall I83 of each way being slotted at its center to permit the corresponding chain I8 to project upwardly therethrough and frictionally engage the bottles therein, which in the form shown stand in upright position. The guide plates 99 of conveyor 38 terminate at the first plate I82 of the bottle washer conveyor. If desired a means may be provided at this point to engage the sides of the bottles to prevent capsizing of the bottles in a forward direction prior to their delivery to the intake feed 4 of th washer in case said feed is not always filled with bottles. The purpose may be served by spring supported upright plates which swing about one upright edge Yielding to the advancement of the bottles in ways I89.

The means for ejecting the bottles or delivering them from the conveyor 38 to the conveyor 4 will now be discussed, it being understood that this ejecting operation takes place in time with the dwell of the bottle row conveyor 38 and with the operation of the bottle neck gripper I 22. This operation will for convenience be specifically ,described as taking place once for every two dwells of the conveyor 38, the intake of the washer having twelve lines whereas the take up as shown handles rows of six bottles each.

In this operation the bottles on the chain 38 in the position of the row of bottles I85, Figure 3. are contacted individually by bottle pushers or pusher plates I86 shown in longitudinal vertical cross-section in Figure '7 which is a section on line 'l'I in Figure 3, and also shown in plan in said latter Figure 3.

These pushers are shown in the form of flat horizontal plates elongated in the direction of motion of conveyor 4 and are slidably supported on the angle iron I94 previously described or the top flange thereof, being mounted to slide in a direction transverse to the step by step motion of the cases as they pass through the machine during and after the take up of the bottles therefrom.

Each pusher is secured at its rear end, the term rear as here used having reference to the end opposite to the bottle engaging end, to a longitudinal bar I81 which is parallel to the case motion as previously defined. This bar I8! is shown in plan in Figure 3 and in cross-section in Figure 7. This bar I81, known as the lateral thrust bar, is in the form shown connected near each end to one of two horizontal thrust rods I88, Figs. 3 and 7, and these rods I88 are pivotally connected each at its inner end, i. e. at the left in Figure 7 to a swinging bar I89 which as shown is suspended from pendulum bars or suspension rods I99 which are swingably connected at their upper ends to and supported by a longitudinal shaft I 9| mounted in the top longitudinal frame as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the top frame being indicated for convenience as at In the form shown there is a horizontal bell crank lever I93 having a transverse arm I94 operated by a longitudinal thrust rod I95 connected to a cam motion to be further described and a longitudinal arm I96, see Figures 2 and 3 which latter arm I95 is connected by connecting rod I91 to a bracket I98 on the swinging bar I89, whereby the latter is reciprocated transversely to the said case motion and transversely to the row of bottles I85, operating the pushers I86 to move each row in turn from the bottle row conveyor 38 to the bottle washer infeed conveyor 4.

Referring now to Figures 4, 8, .9 and 10 the connecting rod I95 extends forwardly and is pivotally connected at its forward end at I95 to a depending oscillating lever 299. The lever 299 may be described as in normal operation swinging about axially aligned journals or journal pins 29I and 292, Fig. 9 having bearings in depending brackets 293 secured to top frame members I92, Figures 4 and 9, said pins bein connected by journal body 294 shown in the form of a tube extending across the machine transversely to the said case motion. The lever 299 is provided with a cam follower 296 and said lever is normally operated by a cam 295 engaging the follower 296 mounted on lever 299 near its center, said cam being mounted on shaft 291 near the front. To prevent crushing of the bottles in case the lines of bottles I8I on ways I89 become filled or otherwise obstructed it is found desirable to provide a sensitive yielding of the thrust mechanism between shaft 291 and pushers I88. To this end the journal member 294 carries a depending suspension rod 298 which may to advantage be of a length about half the length of lever 200 the proportions shown being satisfactory. This rod 209 is shown as pivotally connected to said lever 200 near the center of the latter at 209.

In the form shown the follower 206 is mounted on pivot pin 209 and said pin extends through the lever 200 which is shown as bifurcated, the suspension or radius rod 2%8 being between thetwo plates 200 and 200" of which lever 200 is composed. Roller or follower 206 is held in contact with cam 205 by tension spring 2I0, Figs. 4 and 10, one end of which is connected to front frame I96 and the other end of which is secured to lug 2I I on connecting rod I95. The lever 200 is shown as of U-shaped cross-section at the top having a cross arm 200" at the rear. The cam 205 has two actuating surfaces 205' and 205 timed as already pointed out to give one stroke of pushers I86 for two bottle lifting strokes any suitable timing and various changes of design in all parts of the machine being contemplated.

'I'he pushers I86 in normal operation are advanced moving a row of 12 bottles, two case rows, from bottle conveyor 38 to the washing machine intake conveyor, as each actuating surface 205, 205" of cam 205 passes the roller 206, rocking the lever 20o backwardly about its fulcrum 204, the axis of which fulcrum coincides with the axis of journals 20 I, 202. The rocking motion referred to moves the lower end of lever 200 carrying the forward end I95 of rod I95 backwardly on an arc concentric with said last mentioned axis.

In case of obstruction of ways I80, to avoid crushing of the bottles a yielding element or feature has been introduced into the bottle pusher motion, just described, whereby the bottles are transferred from bottle row conveyor 38 to washer intake conveyor 4. This yielding element also trips a temporary stop motion, i. e., a stop motion which permits the machine to start as soon as the obstruction is removed.

To this end the bifurcated portion of lever 200 has near its upper end a rearwardly extending a proximately horizontal arm 2I2, see Figures 4, 8, 9 and 10. This arm is shown as bifurcated and U-shaped in plan with the cross arm of the U at the rear and it contains a tension spring 2 I 4, connected at one end to the cross arm of the U and at its'other end to suspension or radius rod 208 near its upper end, see Figures 4, 8 and 10. The tension of the spring 2 I4 is sufllcient to take up without considerable distortion, the normal thrust required to transfer the successive rows of bottles I8I from bottle row conveyor 38 to washer intake conveyor 4. The spring serves to normally preserve the relation of lever 200 to the radius rod 208 shown in Figure 4. In case of obstruction of passages I80 of conveyor 4 the spring 2I4 is stretched or expands horizontally and bottle row transfer lever 200 instead of serving as an inflexible means for transmission of the motion of cam 205 to bottle row pushers I85, swings rearwardly a" its upper end about the forward end I95 of'connecting rod I95. This operation is best seen in Figure 4.

The extreme upper end of arm 200 is shown as in the form of an offset upwardly extending lug 2 I 5. This oifset is to the left in Fig. 9 and toward the observer in Fig. 4. This lug is provided at its upper end with a transverse pin 2I6 shown as aligned with the axes of journals MI and 202 though precise alignment i probably non-essential. This pin 2I6 extends outwardly to the left in Figure 9 through a substantially upright slot In in the pright arm 2I8 of a bell crank lever 2I9 having an approximately horizontal rearwardly extending arm 220. This bell crank 219 is pivotally mounted by means of pivot pin 22I at the rear end of a fore and aft horizontal bell crank carrier arm 222 of a bell crank 224 pivoted on the frame member I92 at 224", Fig. 4, and having a horizontal follower arm 224 and a depending case stop motion arm 225, Figure 4, connected to the case detector roller 36 in a manner to be described. The horizontal arm 224' of said bell crank 224 carries a cam follower roller 226, Figures 1 and 4, which at suitable periods engages a'cam segment 221, same figure, on shaft 261. The operation of this cam and follower will be later discussed in connection with the case. supply stop motion which stops the machine temporarily in the absence of a full supply of cases. The rearwardly extending horizontal arm 229 of bell crank 2I9 is connected at its rear end by a connecting rod 228 extending downwardly from arm 220 to the arm 229 of amercury or equivalent switch or stop device 230 shown in Fig. 4. Thi switch is in the circuit of motor 353 by which shafts 58, I28 and 201 are driven as hereinafter described.

In the operation of bottle pushers I86 in case of an obstruction of ways I80, the upper end of arm 200 swings rearwardly about its lower end at I95. The upright arm 2I8 of. bell crank 2I9 also swings rearwardly about pin HI and horizontal arm 220 of said bell crank swings downwardly about the same pin pushing the rod 228 downwardly and likewise rocking stop motion arm 229 downwardly, changing the position of mercury switch 230, and operating said switch or other stop mechanism to stop the machine. The stoppage of the machine thus effected is preferably temporary the overcoming or removal of the obstruction permits the spring 2I4 to restore lever 200 to its operative condition and position and to its normal relation to radius rod 208, as shown in Figure 4. Bell crank M9 i thus rocked in counter clockwise direction swingin the switch arm 229 upwardly, closing switch 230 and causing the machine to resume its operation. The slot 2I'I permits lever arm 222 and arm 224' to move up and down freely relatively to bracket 2 I 5 and pin 2I6 and without affecting the operation of transfer lever 200, and arm 200 does not affect the operation of the case stop motion to be de scribed.

The Purpose of the case stop' motion referred to as tripped by roller 36, Figure 2, in connection with bell crank lever 224 is to stop the machine, preferably temporarily in the absence for a predetermined period of a case on take up rollers 3i, ready to present rows of bottles to the bottle take up gripper assembly I22 or other take up mechanism.

As shown the roller 36 is journalled in the rear end of a horizontal fore and aft extending lever 36', see Figures 2 and 4, which lever is in the nature of a rearwardly extending arm secured to the upright shaft 233 mounted to oscillate in bearings carried by the frame at the front, see Fig. 4. This shaft 233 is provided above with a transverse horizontal arm 234 which is connected by a connecting rod 235 to the lower end of the depending arm 225 of the bell crank 224. The roller 36 and the connections 36', 233, 234, 235 and 224 at times support the follower 226 on arm 224 of bell crank 224 and this weight tends to advance the roller 36 into the path of the cases on'rollers 3|. At other times the follower 226 and its said connections are supported by said cam 221. This latter cam rotates with shaft 291 and is so timed as to support roller 226 in a period, after a case emptied of bottles has passed rearwardly and the pusher member 49 with its upright side wall 49 which also supports roller 36 has been withdrawn forwardly by sprin 11 and cable 14. At this time there is a period during which the full case is normally advancing from conveyor 29 onto rollers 31 in which roller 36 is withheld from the case path by the action of said cam 221. But in the instance of a retardation or cessation of the case supply causing roller 36 to be free of contact with a case end in take up position, after pusher 49, 49 has been withdrawn and roller 226 is free to drop, not being in contact with cam segment 221, the weight oflever arms 222 and 224' and roller 226 which normally rests on said cam or by way of roller 36 and the mechanism 36', 233, 234, 235, 225 on the forward end of the case being emptied or o pusher 49, 49' causes the roller 226 and arm 222 to drop.

This depression of lever arm 222, lowers the bell crank lever 219, the slot 211 permitting the lever 2 I 9 to move downwardly relative to pin 216 without affecting lever 299.

The arm 222 of bell crank 224 and the arm 229 of bell crank 219 are thus lowered without notable disalignment, causing a corresponding downward motion of connecting rod 228 whereby the stop motion operating arm 229 is turned through a short are, operating the mercury switch 239 or other stop motion, stopping the machine. This inoperative condition in the form of the device shown is temporary, the presence of a case in take up position on rollers 31 serving to expel roller 36 from the stopping position which acts through the connections recited, raising the arm 222 and bell crank arm 229, holding them in the normal relation, i. e., in the form shown in practical alignment. The raising of am 229 taking effect through connecting rod 228 on stop motion arm 229 closes the switch 239 or effects a corresponding operation of such other stop motion device as may be employed starting the machine.

Thus the machine is stopped whenever a bottle row way 189 leading to the washer or any of these ways are obstructed and whenever the case feed is delayed or fails to operate, so that for an abnormally long period there is no case on the bottle take up case supporting rollers 31 in bottle take up position. In the form shown, which is the preferred form, relief of the obstruction in and of the ways 189 and/or the arrival of a case in bottle take up position causes the operation of the machine to be automatically resumed without the intervention of an operator.

Referring now to Figs. 4, and 6, it will be noted that the various motions with the exception of the case in-feed, the bottle delivery to the washer and the case delivery are as shown driven from an electric motor 353, Fig. 5.

It may be noted that the intake and delivery motion referred to as separately driven are not positive motions, the cases and bottles in all these instances being so related to the conveyor that free slippage occurs and there need be no difficulty due to variation of timing. The motor 2, shown in Fig. 1 as driving these agencies may be the bottle washer motor or any other motor.

In the arrangement shown the motor 353 carries on its shaft a small pulley 354 which drives pulley 356 by way of belt 355. Said pulley 356 is secured to its shaft 351 which carries secured thereto a toothed sprocket 359. Sprocket 359 drives a chain 362 which engages and drives a sprocket 363 on shaft 365. Shaft 365 has secured thereto a sprocket 361 which by way of chain 369 drives a sprocket 359 which drives shaft 128 which carries mounted thereon and driven thereby the rocking beam cams 121 previously described in connection with the motion of the rocking beams which control the vertical motion of the bottle row gripping assembly 122 and hence of the rows of bottles as lifted from the cases.

It is further of interest that the large sprocket 363 mounted on shaft 365 drives said shaft through the overload stop motion device 366 shown in detail in Fig. 6 which is a top plan view. This feature of the machine will be further described. The shaft 365 carries secured thereto and driven thereby a sprocket 361 which engages and drives a chain 368 which drives a sprocket 369 which is operatively connected to and drives cam shaft 58, Fig. 5 which carries and drives the follower 56 and earns 129 and 158. Shaft 365 also carries secured thereto and driven thereby a sprocket 319 which carries operatively related thereto, a chain 311 which extends forwardly and drives a sprocket 312, Fig. 4, mounted on and secured to the cam shaft 291, whereby said shaft and the cams 221 and 295 thereon are driven in the operations previously discussed in connection with the description thereof the motion of these cams being relatively slow.

Referring now to Fig. 6 the sprocket 363 driven by chain 362 as described, is releasably connected to shaft 365 in the form shown, by means of a pin 315 which extends diametrically through the shaft 365 and provides a releasable engagement of said shaft with sprocket 363. The sprocket in the form shown is slidably and rotatably mounted on shaft 365, a driving connection of the sprocket to the shaft being provided by the seating of pin 315 in an open slot or groove 316 in the hub 311 of the sprocket 363.

A coil spring 318 encloses the shaft on the side of the hub 311 opposite to the pin 315 and seat 316, and bears at one end against the said hub and at its other end against a suitable abutment on the shaft 365, shown in the form of a collar 319 secured in predetermined position as by means of a set screw or any suitable securing means. The various features and details here and elsewhere. in the machine being subject to a considerable degree of variation. Fig. 6 shows a bracket 389 mounted on the frame of the machine. This bracket supports a snap switch 381 having a forked actuating member 382 projecting therefrom. The bracket also has a rigid arm 383 transverse to shaft 365. Pivotally mounted on said bracket arm at 385 is a lever 384 which is normally transverse to shaft 365 and approximately radially related to the sprocket 363. This lever 384 has a long arm extending to the left in Fig. 6 from pivot 385 and a short arm extending to the right from said pivot. The left hand end. of the arm is urged backwardly from said sprocket and toward the observer by a spring 381 connected at one end to the left hand end of lever 384 near shaft 365 and at its other end to bracket 389 as by lug 388 nearer the observer in Fig. 6 than said switch 381 and lever 384. It may be noted that spring 381 is connected to the swinging end of the long arm of lever 394. A roller 388 mounted on the swinging end of the short arm f said lever engages the rim 389 of said; sprocket, thesaid roller having its axis radially related to the sprocket and said roller being pressed against the rim of the sprocket by the tension of spring 381 as multiplied-by the leverage of said long and short arm respectively. The fork 382 of switch 38! is engaged by a pin 398, shown as carried by the long arm of said lever 384, the details being illustrative of a practical embodiment of the invention.

It is of importance that the sides of groove or slot 316 are so designed as to expel the pin and move the sprocket 383 along its shaft 385 away from the observer, in Fig. 6, whenever the load on said shaft 365, resisting the driving tendency applied to the shaft 355 by sprocket 363 exceeds a predetermined maximum. When such overload occurs the side wall of slot 316 has a cam action on pin 315forcing the sprocket along shaft 365 away from the observer in Figure 6. Under these circumstances the sprocket 383 and the track or rim 389 recede from the position of the observer in Fig. 6 and roller 388 is advanced in the same direction as lever 384 swings contraclockwise about pivot 385 in response to the tension of spring 281. The swinging end 384' moves toward the observer, the roller 388 receding from the observer in Fig. 6, following the sprocket 383 and its track 389.

As lever 384 swings counterclockwise pin 398 engaging fork 382 opens switch 38I which controls the circuit of motor 353 stopping the motor and the parts driven thereby. In the preferred form, the motor wires 39l may be led from switch 38I through the shank of bracket 388 to a hand switch 392 operated by button or the like 394. When switch 38! has been automatically opened as described, the dimculty of wedged or broken bottles or cases will be removed. It is then again desirable to start the machine, switch 392 having been opened.

To do this the switch 392 is first closed, to do this pull rod 395 is conveniently grasped by button 396 and drawn toward the observer in Fig. 6. This rod which slides in the frame or through the box of switch 392 is balanced by spring 391 and connected by cable 398 to the short end of lever 384 which carries the roller 388. Thus roller 388 is returned to the position shown in Figure 6 and switch 38l is closed, starting the motor. The rotation of the motor turns sprocket 363 bringing groove 318 opposite pin 315 in shaft 365. Spring 318 advances gear 353 causing pin 315 to enter said groove whereby operation of the parts of the machine driven by motor 353 is resumed.

The motor wiring 39l, Fig. 5, is shown as leading to a solenoid, not shown, butmounted in a casing 399 this solenoid has a core not shown which is drawn downwardly by a spring not shown, the spring and solenoid core are connected to a vertically sliding rod 488 which is connected centre 1y of a toggle 48| which controls motor brake shoes 482 on motor 353. This is a recognized cype of brake. When the circuit is closed the brake is released and when it is opened the brake is applied by the said spring. Various types of brake may be employed, the purpose being to stop the motor and the parts directly driven thereby instantly as the overload stop motion, Fig. 6, operates.

The objects and the accomplishment of the invention and the operation of the machine have been fully discussed in the preamble and in the detailed description of the elements of the machine shown and described is an example of a practical embodiment of the invention.

I have thus described a machine embodying the invention, the description being specific and in minute detail in order that the construction and operation of a machine embodying the various features of the invention may be fully disclosed for the benefit of those familiar with case filling and similar machines and hence able to understand this machine: however the specific terms herein are used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, the construction disclosed being regarded as a practical embodiment of the invention of which other forms are contemplated.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for removing bottles from compartment cases comprising means for advancing each case in turn with a step by step motion bringing each row of compartments in the cases in turn to rest in a predetermined bottle row gripping position the cases and bottles being upright, bottle row gripping means, a bottle row support spaced from said gripping position, means for moving said bottle row gripping means on a path extending from bottle row gripping position to position to deposit bottles on said bottle row support and back to gripping position, and means for operating said gripping means to alternately grip and release rows of bottles in said positions, in the case and in upright position on the support-respectively whereby bottles comprising the rows in said predetermined position are removed from the casesand placed on said support, and the gripping means comprising a row of bottle neck gripping units each having bottle neck engaging jaws extending in the direction of said step by step motion of the cases the jaws being spaced apart transversely of said case motion, and being mounted to yield upwardly and outwardly, the path of the row gripping means comprising a downward and a forward motion, the latter being approximately parallel to the said case motion and taking place when said gripping means is in said depositing relation to the bottle row support, the jaws of the respective units are engaged in turn with the bottle necks of each row in said predetermined row gripping positions and disengaged therefrom in a releasing position in which the bottles are on said bottle row support.

2. A machine for removing bottles from compar-tment cases comprising means 'for advancing the cases with a step by step motion bringing rows of compartments in the cases in turn to a predetermined bottle row gripping position for the bottles therein, bottle row gripping means comprising a row of bottle gripping units, a 'bottle row support spaced rearwardly from said gripping position, means for moving said bottle row gripping means on a path from bottle row gripping position to position to deposit bottles on said bottle row support and back to gripping position and means for operating said gripping means to alternately grip and release rows of bottles in said respective positions, in the case and on said support respectively, whereby bottles comprising the rows in said predetermined position are removed from the cases and deposited on said support, each gripping unit, having a flexibly supported depending member extending beyond the bottle gripping units to guide bottles to the gripping units and to partially prevent tipping of the bottles upon their release.

3. Means for removing rows of upright bottles from compartment cases comprising .a. gripper 

